CAIRO – 16 February 2025: President Abdel Fattah El Sisi welcomed on Sunday Ronald Lauder, President of the World Jewish Congress (WJC), stressing that Egypt is developing a comprehensive plan regarding the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip.
The meeting, attended by Head of the General Intelligence Service (GIS) Hassan Rashad, highlighted Egypt’s efforts to implement the ceasefire in Gaza, the Egyptian Presidency said in a statement. This includes the captive-prisoner exchange, as well as facilitating the entry of humanitarian aid into the enclave.
Sisi underscored the importance of beginning the reconstruction of Gaza, while ensuring that its residents are not displaced from their land.
Lauder, for his part, expressed anticipation for the Egyptian/Arab proposal regarding Gaza, emphasizing his hopes for peace, which must be realized through a two-state solution.
Hamas has reaffirmed its commitment to all three phases of the ceasefire agreement with Israel regarding the war in Gaza, according to an Egyptian source familiar with the negotiations.#Egypt #Africa #MENA https://t.co/Agle95hFeC
— Egypt Today Magazine (@EgyptTodayMag) February 16, 2025
Sisi emphasized the need for all parties to act responsibly to ensure the maintenance of the ceasefire, warning that the continuation and expansion of the conflict would harm all parties without exception.
The president highlighted that the establishment of a Palestinian state along the borders of June 4, 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital, represents the only guarantee for achieving permanent peace.
The WJC chief expressed his support for the president’s statements and expressed his commitment to continued consultations with Egypt on various relevant topics, the presidency said.
He commended Egypt’s leading role in achieving peace in the Middle East and its wise efforts to enhance stability in the region.
Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly has reaffirmed Egypt’s support to the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, including their right to self-determination and statehood based on the borders of June 4, 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital#Egypt…
— Egypt Today Magazine (@EgyptTodayMag) February 16, 2025
The presidency cited a statement by the WJC chief, which described the meeting with Sisi as excellent and productive.
Lauder affirmed the importance of Egypt and lauded the Egyptian-American relationship as pivotal for regional stability, adding that the WJC supports all efforts to maintain stability and peace in the region.
Lauder’s visit comes amid widespread condemnation regarding US President Donald Trump’s so-called plan to “take over” Gaza and relocate its two million residents to Egypt and Jordan.
Egypt has denounced proposals to displace Palestinians from Gaza to Sinai since the early days of the Israeli war in Gaza in 2023. Massive protests erupted in North Sinai’s Rafah against Trump’s plan, which he unveiled earlier in February.
Last week, Egypt announced that it would present a comprehensive plan for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, ensuring that the Palestinian people remain on their land in accordance with their legitimate rights.
Egypt, along with Qatar and the US, is also working diligently to prevent any collapse of the ceasefire currently in place between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.
The Hamas movement announced that the sixth batch of three Israeli captives is being handed over as part of the ongoing prisoner swap deal between Hamas and Israel. The handover is taking place in Khan Younis, Gaza, on Saturday#Egypt #Africa #MENAhttps://t.co/QF3JiVz5RX
— Egypt Today Magazine (@EgyptTodayMag) February 15, 2025
The agreement, which took effect on January 19, has halted over 15 months of war that devastated the enclave and killed more than 48,000 Palestinians, the majority of whom were women and children.
So far, the initial phase of the ceasefire has seen Hamas release 24 captives taken from Israel on October 7, 2023, while dozens more remain held. In return, Israel has released a total of 1,135 Palestinian prisoners, including many serving life sentences.
The upcoming second phase of the agreement, reportedly yet to be negotiated, aims to conclude one of the bloodiest wars of the 21st century.
Trump’s plan obviously jeopardizes hopes for the long-awaited and globally advocated two-state solution, which envisions Israelis and Palestinians coexisting peacefully in separate states, with Gaza as an integral part of a future Palestinian state.
